The League of Bangsamoro Organizations (LBO) issued a message of support to the new Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) launched on February 24 at the Waterfront Insular Hotel, Davao City.

The LBO message of support reads as follows:

The League of Bangsamoro Organizations (LBO), a consortium of Bangsamoro NGOs, POs and other CSOs based in mainland Mindanao and the Island provinces – all committed to peace, congratulates the GPH and the MILF on the occasion of the momentous launching of the new BTC last February 24, 2017 in Davao City.

Likewise and in particular, LBO expresses its support to all the 21 Commissioners and hereby wishes fortuity upon them all, not only in their eventual assumption of office but also as they meet and deal with challenges head on in the fulfilment of their official tasks. Without a doubt, this great event is another landmark occasion in the annals of the GPH and MILF peace process as it marks not only the day when members shall formally assume and start performing office works as Commissioners but more importantly, it is the day

when they were chosen to form a fellowship of peace whose primary aim is to help craft a national law which would address and somehow solve the age-old Mindanao conflict that has claimed at least 120, 000 lives since 1970s.

The League fervently prays for health and provision as well as circumspection and wisdom upon the members where Allahu taala’s Light and Guidance shall dwell upon, in their exercise of prudence and discretion as they eventually craft a new CAB-Compliant Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), it being the New Enabling Law in the establishment of the Bangsamoro Government, either ahead of or apart from the

GPH’s push for federalism.

Moreover, the LBO lauds the MNLF when it honorably responded to the call of its brethren MILF for unity and convergence, and thereby agreed to occupy a seat in the BTC. Indeed, blessed is this day as the Bangsamoro leadership is once again accorded honorably with the opportunity to sit together as one people pushing for a common political stand. In this particular occasion, the LBO with all humility, calls upon the honorable BTC commissioners to make an exhaustive and productive exploit of this rare opportunity; and, with due respect to all, the LBO prayerfully appeal upon them to discard specific regional interests, leave tribal divides behind, set aside exclusive group agenda and work together instead for the common good of the Bangsamoro.

The LBO affirms once again its belief upon peaceful negotiation as the most civilized and humane way to solve the age-old Mindanao problem. Particularly, LBO strongly believes that the win-win solution to address the legitimate clamour of the Bangsamoro for right to self-determination is (through) a mutually negotiated political settlement.

On this account, the LBO reiterates its unrelenting support to the on-going peace process between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro Islamic

Liberation Front (MILF) since 1997. Couched upon both parties’ continuous commitment to peace, which culminated in the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) in 2014, the LBO congratulates once again both the GPH and the MILF on the occasion of the timely constitution of the new composition of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).

Likewise, the League hereby expresses its gratitude over President Rodrigo R.

Duterte for his Excellency’s signing of the executive order which created the expanded BTC in a bid to make the GPH – MILF peace process in Mindanao inclusive even more.

Finally, the Bangsamoro is honored and thereby feels indebted to his Excellency in his forthright recognition of the necessity to correct the historical injustices committed against the Moro people both as the foremost condition and solution to the age-old Mindanao conflict.

During the launching, President Rodrigo Duterte, Keynote Speaker urged the BTC to navigate the hindrances and obstruction, to look for ways towards peace.

He said that it may be difficult and going to be a long journey but you will see a product acceptable to all.

On the other hand, MILF Chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim considered the 2nd launching as the ‘best second chance’.

“We feel more confident in achieving a lasting solution today to the Moro Question than at any other time in our struggle, because we have a president who understands the history and the root cause of the Moro Question”, Al Haj Murad said.